[Page 883]An individual with a communication disorder has impaired ability to receive and/or send verbal, nonverbal, and graphic information. A communication disorder may be developmental (i.e., from birth) or acquired; may impact hearing, language, or speech abilities; may range from mild to profound severity; and may be a temporary or permanent condition. Specifically, a communication disorder includes disorders of speech (i.e., articulation, voice, resonance, and fluency), language impairment, feeding and swallowing disorders, cognitive and social communication deficits, and hearing and processing difficulties.

It is important to note that a communication disorder does not include individuals who have dialectal differences or who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD). Individuals who speak a language other than English may have limited knowledge and experience with the mainstream language. While ...